Whitley County has first ‘breakthrough’ COVID–19 death

The Whitley County Health Department has announced the county’s first breakthrough COVID–19 related death.

Whitley County Public Health Director Marcy Rein said the adult over the age of 65 died Tuesday.

“That person was fully vaccinated,” Rein said noting that the individual was hospitalized at the time of death.

That death marks the third COVID–19 death in Whitley County in the last two weeks.

Two reported last week involved unvaccinated individuals.

As of Thursday, Rein said there are 213 active COVID–19 cases in Whitley County, of which three are hospitalized.

As of Thursday afternoon, Whitley County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stood at 61.1, placing it in the red zone.

Knox County is at 70.2. Laurel County is at 73.3. McCreary County is still in the orange zone at 23.2

Clay County has the highest rate in the state at 82.6

There are no longer any green counties in Kentucky.

The lowest rate is Trigg County at 3.9, placing it in the yellow zone.

Nicholas, Hickman and Fulton counties are also still yellow.